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NATURAL FERTILTY WITH HOMEOPATHY
Factors that affect fertility levels are many fold and multi factorial, thus one needs to consider many different aspects of treatment. Natural medicine has a lot of application, from the couples who pass all tests with flying colours but are still not getting pregnant through to those with diagnosed conditions that are reducing their chances of success. Homeopathy is at the forefront of these therapies as it is able to treat on the physical level, but also just as importantly on the mental and emotional level too. Thus it can help to treat the anxieties, fears, disappointments and frustrations of the trials some couples go through in order to get pregnant.
From a natural fertility point of view most practitioners advise patients that they should start an approximate 3 month programme, before they are likely to conceive. During this time most of the work will be to get the couple in the best optimum condition for conception to occur and will include a look at diet and lifestyle too.
The Constitutional Remedy
This is the remedy that is most indicated for the patient and covers their physical and character (mental and emotional) traits. It is a remedy that is chosen after thorough case taking and analysis and thus is an individualised remedy for that patient. It can be used to treat an illness, perhaps one that is affecting fertility e.g. endometriosis or various hormonal imbalances or it can be taken almost as a 'tonic' by the well couple who are simply having difficulty conceiving in order to try and make sure that the mind and body are as healthy as possible. The constitutional remedy may be prescribed at a variety of different strengths, but is usually given as a very short course of remedy; some practitioners even give just one single tablet! There are so many remedies that could be prescribed as a constitutional remedy that there is no point in me mentioning individual ones at this stage.
Hormonal Regulation
Our reproductive cycles are regulated by several hormones such as oestrogen and testosterone and many factors can knock the levels of these hormones out of kilter, leading to period cycle/ovulatory abnormalities and poor sperm samples. Imbalances in reproductive hormone levels are determined via blood testing and this should be one of the first investigations undertaken by any couple that are experiencing difficulty. Homeopathic remedies can help to correct these imbalances.
I have found remedies such as Pulsatilla, Lachesis, Sepia, Natrum muriaticum, Agnus castus, Phosphorous and Lilium tigrium to be useful in this area. Remedies derived from the hormones themselves; oestrogen, testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) can prove useful in correcting variability. Many of the reproductive hormones are secreted from a particular gland in the body called the pituitary gland and I have found a dose of a remedy made from this gland to be of particular use.
If hormonal imbalances are caused by specific diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) then a whole different homeopathic ball game develops and a practitioner may need to prescribe on a specific disease layer first. The remedies which might be indicated for this are again very variable and would be chosen based on the individual presentation of symptoms and thorough case analysis.
Organ support remedies for fertility
Organ support remedies are remedies that are given, usually frequently and in very low strengths, in order to stimulate an organ that has been identified as under functioning or is having a lot of pressure put on it e.g. if a person is undergoing a detox a homeopath might support the liver through the process as this organ is having extra pressure put on it.
Organ support remedies fall into two main groups:
a) remedies that have been shown to have an affinity to the reproductive organs
b) sarcodes, these are homeopathic remedies that are made from the healthy organ tissue or body products e.g. ovary, testes, uterus, oestrogen and testosterone
I have found these remedies to be very useful in the treatment of fertility cases, especially those where the couple have no diagnosable reason for their difficulty. Organ support of the ovaries and the testes seems to have the effect of 'toning' the organs.
If you are going for IVF
A description of the pros and cons of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is not part of what I am trying to achieve in this article, but I want to point out how homeopathy can be useful with regard to IVF and also mention one or two cautions of running the two processes together.
There are several different forms of IVF treatment and all of them involve quite heavy drug regimens that manipulate the normal reproductive hormonal cycles. This manipulation can be divided into the two basic areas of suppression of the normal cycling and then stimulation. Homeopathy can be useful in helping the patient cope with the side effects of these drugs; the side effect symptoms are recorded and the indicated remedy prescribed.
I have sometimes seen patients where the phrase 'never been well since IVF treatment' could be used, it appears that the hormone levels are not settling down and re-establishing their normal levels again leaving the woman with all sorts of symptoms. If this is the case I have found Sepia to be a very useful remedy in order to try and clear any overlying effects from the drug treatments. The Sulphur/Nux vomica detox programme can also be useful.
I would not advise using remedies that have the capability to exert a hormonal effect whilst a woman is undergoing IVF drug treatment, this appears to produce a skewed result from that which one would expect if the woman was on the IVF drugs alone, thus I would advise against constitutional treatment or the use of any of the hormone/gland derived remedies that we have available to us. These can be used after the IVF drug treatment if required.
Diet
Diet has a HUGE role to play with regard to fertility, much more so than is the scope of the remit of this article. Any natural fertility programme regardless of the main thrust of the therapy will be of little use unless the diet and/or supplement programme of the patients is taken into account and modified where necessary.
Lifestyle
As research progresses we are learning that lifestyle factors are becoming increasingly more important as factors that affect a couples' chances of conception. These range from smoking and alcohol intake to exercise and relaxation. Each of the main lifestyle factors will be dealt with in turn.
Smoking
Several studies in the last couples of years have shown that smoking, both actual smoking and passive smoking, can markedly affect fertility, especially in the male. Thus it is very strongly advised that patients greatly reduce (preferably stop) their smoking habit during the time that they are trying to conceive. This would also include limiting exposure to passive smoking too.
Alcohol intake
Like smoking this has also been shown to have a marked effect on fertility, and again this is especially marked in the male. Patients are recommended to cut down or stop their alcohol intake during the time that they are trying to conceive. For both sexes alcohol intake can interfere with how the body uses nutrients that are vital for reproductive health.
Recreational drugs
Do not take/use them. Most recreational drugs can have a marked effect on fertility, both immediate effects and long term toxicity effects. Even the single joint of cannabis that is only smoked at the weekend can affect sperm production and motility or affect ovulation/egg quality.
Exercise
All aspects of exercise are important in toning the body in general and also help to improve the mind/body balance (how many of us start to feel mentally better once we have embarked on an exercise programme). Being overweight is also a major factor that can reduce fertility levels and regular exercise can help to reduce weight generally increasing the chances of conception. A Body Mass Index (BMI) of approximately 20 ? 29 is said to be the best with regard to fertility.
Relaxation
How you do this very much depends on you, but the fact that you do it is of paramount importance. These days we live life at such a rate of knots, especially the city and big town dwellers, even when we think we are doing relaxing things we are still going round the gallery or museum at a rate of knots. Step off the treadmill for a while!
I try to get my couples to relax together as part of the bonding and grounding of them as a couple, after all they need to come together to conceive. Take that long weekend break in the country and if this coincides with ovulation time then all to the better. Indulge in that spa treatment or long soak in aromatic bath oils. Another good relaxation technique is taking time for mutual massage; this could also be used as a form of foreplay.
Visualisation
This can be important in all forms of natural medicine treatments and can be a very useful tool when dealing with fertility problems. However, it is not everybody's cup of tea and if trying to sit quietly and visualise ovulation, conception, pregnancy, the forming of the baby etc simply leads to frustration then I would say forget it and go for the relaxation more instead. How people go about the process of visualisation is also quite personal, but generally you should set aside the same time of day each day, sit quiet, eyes closed, breathing deeply and rhythmically and visualise you goal. Fifteen minutes a day should be enough. More informed patients actually visualise the sperm and egg joining together or the fertilised egg implanting itself in the lining of the uterus, others prefer to visualise a seed that is beginning to germinate and grow. Basically it is whatever subject works for you that is akin to your goal.
Remember
This section on lifestyle could make grim reading as abiding by the advice can sound like the basis for a very pure and austere life. As I go through these factors patients generally sink deeper and deeper into their chair as they see the dinner parties and nights at the pub drift further and further away from them. Remember that if you like a session in the pub or the odd social cigarette, the advised ban is only for the duration of time that conception is your goal. Once conception has occurred then you can go back to you old habits (although for general health this is still not advised and certainly not for the pregnant lady). It is also important to remember that if you do slip up with the odd cup of coffee or pint of beer, don't beat yourself up. The stress and guilt incurred is probably more detrimental than the momentary effects of a single glass of wine.
After several months of implementing the lifestyle and dietary changes most of my patients comment on how well they feel after a period of abstinence and apart from the odd pint or bottle of wine they remain more modest in their habits.
CLINIC
Mayfair Medical Centre
3-5 Weighhouse Street,
London, W1K 5LS
Tel: +44 (0)1372-361669
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